Connector device



Oct. 6, 1942. 5 Q GEBERT 2,298,119

CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed DeG. 7, 1959 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 6, 1942 298,119 CONNECTOR nEvrCE Sever C. Gebert, Three Rivers, Mich., miglior to Fairbanks, Morse & Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December "I, 1939, Serial No. 307,951

z Claims (c1. 19a-3o) This invention relates to improvements in material handling apparatus, and has particular reference to improved means adapted for connecting the discharge end of a material conduit to a material receiver or container, in a manner providing for ready removal of the receiver from the connecting means, as when the receiver becomes nlled and it is desired or becomes necessary to replace it with an empty container.

While the. connecting means forming the subject of the present invention, is readily applicable to many types of material 4handling systems, it has particular utility in ash removal systems for domestic type stokers, as for example, in such a system which employs conveyor means arranged to conduct ashes from the burner ash-pit zone, to a point remote from the burner, for discharge into an ash receiver or ash can. It is especially 'desirable in domestic stoker installations, to proand quick substitution of an empty container or receiver for a lled one, in ash-receiving association with the conveyor.

The foregoing objectives are fully attained by the improved connector device forming the subject of this invention, and since it finds particular utility in connection-with a stoker ash removal system of the type indicated, the present disclosure of the connector device is exemplified as applied to such a system.

It is to be noted however, that other objects and advantages of the invention not specifically indicated hereinabove, will become readily appar- Referring to the drawing by suitable characters of reference, there is illustrated in Flg.'l, a

housing I0 forming part of a stoker assembly and er (not shown) into the housingl I 0, for association with an ash elevator mechanism (not shown) entl from the following detailed description there# to: Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional elevation of the improved connector means, shown in operative association with the discharge end of the ash conveyor and with an ash receiver, the latter elements being shown only in fragmentary section.

arranged within an elevator conduit II which may proj-ect outwardly and upwardly from the upper portion of one side I2 of housing I0, so as to provide for the discharge of ashesltherefrom, into ash receivers I4 located below the outer end I5 of the elevator conduit. Operation ofthe conveyor and elevator mechanism may be effected within the housing I0, as from the stoker motor therein. l

Located on the lower side of the elevator conduit discharge end I5 are a pair of short-length conduits I6 forming ash discharge nozzles or spouts, each in communication with the interior of the' conduit. Although two such spouts are shown, it is to be understood that one or more than two may be provided, depending upon the type and capacity of the stoker installation. In

the present example, the spouts are directed downwardly and oppositely, laterally of the conduit II, thereby spacing them in a manner to facilitate the' connection of each an ash reably held in assembly with the spout in any suit" able manner, as by set screws 23 threadedly carried by the spout section I8 and engageable with the end 20 of the member (Fig. 3). in the figure referred to, the internal diameter of the tubular member 22 isA preferably the same as that, of the spout at its mouth, so that the adjoining internal wall surfaces 24 and 2 6 of the members I6 and 22, respectively, are flush at the juncture, thus providing for a smooth flow of ashes past this connection. v

The lower end of the tubular member 22 is As appears parent.

turned` outwardly, to provide` a circumferential flange 21 which serves as an abutment or stop.

as well as a guide, for a tubular element 23 which v is sleeved over and telescopically displaceable along the member 22. The upper end 33 of element 23 is formed to provide a relatively thickcned, internal flange 3| extending annularly of the element, and in which is provided an annular recess or groove 32. Seated in the groove is a sealing ring 33 which may be formed of any suitable resilient or pliable gasketing material, as rubber or felt, the gasket engaging the surface of the member 22 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. As now appears, the telescopic displacement of the tubular element 23 relative to the member 22, is limited in its downward projection, by abutment of the inturned Vflange 3| with `the flange 21, and in its upward retraction by abutment of the inturned flange 3| with the margin 34 of the spout end I3. The flange 21 serves also, to retain the element 23 in assembly with the coduit member 22, in a manner readily. ap-

The telescopic element 23 is adapted at its lower end 35, for ash delivery connection to an ash receiver i4, in a manner now to appear. The ash receiver or ash can I4 includes a removable lid or cover 36 which preferably closely engages the open end of the can, thereby effectively closing the can against the escape of ash dust during delivery of ash into the can. Formed in a section of the can cover, preferably near the periphery thereof, is an aperture 31 of circular form and of a diameter suilicient to receive therethrough, the lower end 35 of the connector element 23, as shown in Fig. 3. The marginal portion 33 of the cover, which defines the opening 31, is preferably inturned to provide a-smooth and somewhat rounded edge 39 for the opening.

An external, annular recess or groove 4l! is formed in the lower portion of the element 23, inwardly of 'its lower end 35, the recess providing a seat for a sealing ring 42 formed of suitable gasketing material, as sponge rubber or the like. 'I'he sealing ring is externally beveled as shown, to adapt itfor seating against the rounded portion 39 of the margin 33 defining the ash can cover opening 31, and when so engaged, the ring 42 effectively seals the ash delivery association of the element 23 with the ash can, in a manner to prevent the escape of ash dust past the ring and into the surrounding atmosphere, It is to be noted here, that the felt ring 32 between the tubular elements 22 and 23, serves a similar purpose, as to prevent the escape of ash dust past these parts.

As shown in Fig. 3, the wall section 43 of the element 23, above the recess 40 therein, is preferably tapered outwardly from the upper end of the element to the lzone of the recess, and is of greater thickness in such zone, than the corresponding dimension oi' the wall section at the lower end 35. Such thickening of the wall of element 23, serves to increase its weight to an extent to assure a rm engagement of the sealing ring 42 with the margin of the can opening 31.

ash receiver I4 is located beneath each spout i3 such that the cover opening 31 is substantially in verticalregister with the lower end 33 of the connector element 23, the latter being retracted upwardly during the positioning of the can. Thereafter, the element 23 may be released, for movement downwardly relative to the member 22, until the end 33 projects through the can opening 31 and the sealing ring 42 seats upon the rim 33 of the opening. Removal of the can, as when filled with ashes, may be effected upon upward retraction of the element 23, after which an empty can may be positioned therebelow and the connector means associated therewith in the same .manner as before described.

'Ihe improved connector means exemplified by the present disclosure, fully attains the objects stated hereinabove, and provides a means which greatly facilitates the handling and removal of ashes in a stoker assembly, in a manner to prevent the escape of ash dustinto the surrounding atmosphere in the furnace room or other place of stoker installation. y

1t is to be understood, however, that only a preferred embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed and described, and that alterations or modifications in the parts and arrangement thereof, may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. A connector device of the character and for the purpose described, comprised of a tubular member having an out-turned annular flange at one end, a second tubular member movable longitudinally over the first said member and its flange, and provided with an inturned annular flange at one end thereof, said flanges cooperating in limiting movement of said second member relative to the nrst in one direction, said inturned flange being formed to provide an annular recess Moreover, as will be noted in Fig. 3, the thickened wall section at the zone of the recess 40, provides for a laterally extended upperY margin 44 of the ring form, seated in said recess.

`2. A connector device of the character described, for use with ash disposal means of a domestic stoker, to interconnect an ash discharge conduit thereof and an enclosed ash receiver having an ash-receiving opening, said device comprising a tubular member carried by and forming a continuationr of the ash conduit, said member having` an external, annular fiange at the free end thereof, a second tubular member movably sleeved over the first said member and its flange. and provided with an internal annular flange at one end thereof, said flanges cooperating inl limiting movement of said second member relative to the first member in one direction, said internal flange having an annular recess therein, a resilient gasket element of ring form, seated in said recess and adaptedfor sealing engagement with the first said tubular member, said second member having its opposite end portion adapted for projection into said ash receiver opening, and formed to provide a shouldered, external annular recess, and a resilient element oi tapered recess, to assure firm seating of the sealing ring 7 ring form, seated in said shouldered recess, said 42 in the recess.

Application of the connector means to an ash receiver in the case of each of the spouts I3, is readily effected in a manner now apparent. An

element being provided for sealing engagement with the ash receiver about said opening therein.

SEVER C. GEBERT. 

